Computer-readable recording medium that stores game program, method of controlling information processing apparatus, and information processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game program causes a mobile terminal or a server to execute displaying a slide puzzle so that a partial image is movable in a predetermined direction according to a touch operation detected by a predetermined input surface, and retrieving, when a purpose of a game is achieved, a character or an item that is usable in a different game or change information to change information set in a predetermined character or item in the different game, as a reward that is given to a user for progress of the different game and is associated with the image.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a computer-readable recording medium thatstores a game program, and the like capable of providing a slide puzzleto a user.

BACKGROUND

Various types of slide puzzles in which plural puzzle pieces arearranged horizontally and vertically and the puzzle pieces freely movehorizontally and vertically using a space obtained by removing one ofthe puzzle pieces to complete a predetermined pattern have beenproposed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2008-000236 discloses a slide puzzle in which codes indicating contentinformation are read from a pattern that appears after completion of thepuzzle using a mobile phone with a camera to enable provision of thecontent information.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-154793 disclosesa jigsaw puzzle input device of a touch panel screen capable ofproviding an enjoyable and a creative jigsaw puzzle with a simpleoperation and enhancing communication with other persons. Furthermore,Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-109915 discloses aservice in which an image is divided into plural images to bedistributed to plural mobile image display terminals and the images areexchanged between the terminals to create a composite image.

On the other hand, as electronic devices such as a smart-phone or atablet terminal have become widespread, games for the electronic devicesin addition to games for home video game machines have been activelydeveloped. A structure called a “GACHA (vending machine toy)” has becomewidespread as a structure that gives a character which is usable in apredetermined game to a user. When the user uses the “GACHA,” thecharacter is given to the user as a result of a random event thatdepends only on chance.

The “content information” disclosed in JP '236 is no more than a uniformresource locator (URL) of a web page that provides predetermined contentto a user and, thus, the slide puzzle disclosed in JP '236 cannotprovide a character which is usable in other services such as a game.Thus, in such a slide puzzle, it is difficult to maintain highmotivation of the user to solve the puzzle. This is similarly applied tothe related art techniques disclosed in JP '793 and JP '915.

On the other hand, since the “GACHA” is no more than a structure inwhich a character is given to a user as a result of a random event thatdepends only on chance, the user does not easily get a feeling ofaccomplishment of retrieving the character. Accordingly, the user doesnot easily have affection for the character and, consequently, does noteasily feel enthusiasm for a game in which the character is usable.

It could therefore be helpful to provide a recording medium storing agame program and the like capable of providing a slide puzzle capable ofmaintaining high motivation of a user with excellent amusement.

SUMMARY

We thus provide:

A computer-readable recording medium that stores a game programconfigured to provide a user with a slide puzzle in which a plurality ofpartial images that form an image is arranged at predetermined positionsfor the purpose of recognizably reconstructing the image, the gameprogram causes a computer to execute: displaying the slide puzzle sothat each partial image is movable in a predetermined directionaccording to a touch operation detected by a predetermined inputsurface; and retrieving, when the purpose is achieved, a game contentthat is usable in a different game or change information to changeinformation set in a predetermined game content in the different game,as a reward that is given to the user for progress of the different gameand is associated with the image.

The “touch operation” refers to an operation of giving an input to thecomputer as the user brings a finger or an indicator (for example, astylus or the like) into contact with or close to the input surface.Further, the “game content” refers to arbitrary electronic data (forexample, a character, an item or the like) used by the user in thedifferent game. In addition, the “information set in the predeterminedgame content” refers to a variety of information that regulates the gamecontent in the different game and, for example, widely includes anattribute of the character or item, parameters (for example, attackpower, defensive power, experience point, health point, speed, necessaryability point, special move, support skill, the number of usages or thelike) of the character or item or the like.

Further, the game program may cause the computer to further execute:imposing a first restriction on time to achieve the purpose.

Further, the game program may cause the computer to further execute:imposing a second restriction on the number of moves necessary toachieve the purpose.

Further, the game program may cause the computer to further execute:presenting a hint relating to an operation to approach the achievementof the purpose to the user.

Further, the presenting may be executed to present a hint to the user byletters, or by changing a display mode of a partial image which is atarget of the operation.

Further, the game program may cause the computer to further execute:adjusting a difficulty level of the slide puzzle by setting a wall thathinders the number of the partial images, the number of minimum movesnecessary for the achievement of the purpose, or the movement of thepartial image due to the touch operation.

Further, the game program may cause the computer to further execute:moving, when a predetermined operation is performed by the user, thepartial images to approach the achievement of the purpose.

Further, the game program may cause the computer to further execute:selecting the game content retrieved by the retrieving as a game contentcorresponding to the image according to a predetermined rule.

Further, the displaying may be executed to display the image togetherwith the slide puzzle for reference to the achievement of the purpose.

Further, the image may represent the game content retrieved by theretrieving.

Further, the image may include information capable of associating atleast one of the game content, an attribute of the game content, aparameter set in the game content, and a change of the parameter.

Further, the game content may represent a character or an item in thedifferent game, which is electronic data used by the user in thedifferent game.

Further, the change information may be information that changes anattribute of a predetermined game content of the different game or aparameter of the predetermined game content.

A method of controlling an information processing apparatus configuredto provide a user with a slide puzzle in which a plurality of partialimages that form an image is arranged at predetermined positions for thepurpose of recognizably reconstructing the image, the method includes:displaying the slide puzzle so that each partial image is movable in apredetermined direction according to a touch operation detected by apredetermined input surface; and retrieving, when the purpose isachieved, a game content that is usable in a different game or changeinformation to change information set in a predetermined game content inthe different game, as a reward given to the user for progress of thedifferent game and is associated with the image.

Further, the method may further include: imposing a restriction on timeto achieve the purpose.

Further, the method may further include: imposing a restriction on thenumber of moves necessary to achieve the purpose.

Further, the method may further include: presenting a hint relating toan operation for approaching the achievement of the purpose to the user.

An information processing apparatus configured to provide a user with aslide puzzle in which a plurality of partial images that form an imageis arranged at predetermined positions for the purpose of recognizablyreconstructing the image, includes: a display unit that displays theslide puzzle so that each partial image is movable in a predetermineddirection according to a touch operation detected by a predeterminedinput surface; and retrieving unit that retrieves, when the purpose isachieved, a game content that is usable in a different game or changeinformation to change information set in a predetermined game content inthe different game, as a reward that is given to the user for progressof the different game and is associated with the image.

Further, the information processing apparatus may further include: afirst restriction unit that imposes a restriction on time to achieve thepurpose.

Further, may further include: a second restriction unit that imposes arestriction on the number of moves necessary to achieve the purpose.

According to the computer-readable recording medium, the method ofcontrolling the information processing apparatus, and the informationprocessing apparatus, when the slide puzzle is solved as the user moveseach of the plural partial images that forms the image by the touchoperation, it is possible to retrieve the game content that is usable inthe different game or the change information to change the informationset in the predetermined game content in the different game, as thereward that is given to the user for progress of the different game andis associated with the image.

Thus, according to the computer-readable recording medium and the like,it is possible to give the user the pleasure of solving the slide puzzleand the feeling of accomplishment of retrieving the game content orchanging the information set in the predetermined game content. That is,according to the computer-readable recording medium and the like, it ispossible to provide a slide puzzle capable of maintaining highmotivation of the user with excellent amusement.

Further, according to the computer-readable recording medium and thelike, it is possible to allow the user to have affection for theretrieved or changed game content, and to thus arouse enthusiasm of theuser for the different game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part ofa mobile terminal according to Configuration 1.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a screen example of a puzzlegame displayed in a display part provided in the mobile terminal.

FIG. 3A is a schematic view illustrating an example of a game screen topresent a hint relating to an operation of approaching achievement ofthe purpose of “solve a slide puzzle” to a user, FIG. 3B is a schematicview illustrating an example of a game screen when a wall that hindersmovement of a part is set, and FIG. 3C is a schematic view illustratingan example of a game screen when a user approaches the achievement ofthe purpose by a predetermined number of moves by performing anoperation of using an item.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process executed bythe mobile terminal.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part ofa server according to Configuration 2.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process executed in agame system that includes the mobile terminal and the server.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   1 locus-   2 puzzle information-   3 a time information-   3 b move number information-   3 c hint information-   3 d difficulty level information-   3 e movement information-   3 f character information-   3 g change information-   4 a touch operation-   4 b coordinate information-   4 c determination result-   5 character image (image)-   6 parts (partial image)-   7 a restricted number of moves-   7 b predetermined restricted time-   7 c hint-   8 empty spaces-   9 wall-   10 a control unit-   10 b control unit-   11 time restriction part (first restriction function)-   12 move number restriction part (second restriction function)-   13 hint presentation part (presentation function)-   14 difficulty level adjustment part (adjustment function)-   15 image movement part (movement function)-   16 puzzle display part (display function, display part)-   17 puzzle determination part-   18 character retrieving part (retrieving function, selection    function, retrieving part)-   19 input/output part-   20 communication unit-   21 reception part-   22 transmission part-   30 a memory unit-   30 b memory unit-   40 input unit-   41 input surface-   42 input control part-   50 display unit-   100 mobile terminal (information processing apparatus, computer)-   101 server (information processing apparatus, computer)-   P slide puzzle

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Configuration 1

Configuration 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

Outline of Mobile Terminal 100

A mobile terminal (information processing apparatus) 100 is an apparatusthat includes an input surface 41 capable of detecting a touch operation4 a by a user and is able to provide the user with a slide puzzle Phaving the purpose of arranging plural parts (partial images) 6 thatform a character image (image) 5 at predetermined positions torecognizably reconstruct the character image 5. The mobile terminal 100may be an apparatus capable of executing processes which will bedescribed later and, for example, may be realized using a smart-phone, atablet terminal, a personal computer or the like.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a screen example of a puzzlegame displayed in a display unit 50 provided in the mobile terminal 100.The user may drag (refers to a touch operation of bringing a finger intocontact with the input surface 41 and moving the finger to slide on theinput surface 41) a part 6 adjacent to an empty space 8 to move the part6 vertically or horizontally to fill the empty space 8. That is, due tothe restriction that “the part 6 adjacent to the empty space 8 movesonly in the direction toward the empty space 8,” the respective parts 6are arranged at appropriate positions to reconstruct the character image5 so that the user enjoys solving the slide puzzle P.

When the user succeeds in solving the slide puzzle P (reconstructing thecharacter image 5), the mobile terminal 100 retrieves a character (gamecontent) that appears as a pattern in the slide puzzle P, which is acharacter (or an item, a parameter change or the like) usable in anothergame (a predetermined game different from the slide puzzle P) (forexample, from the server 101) (that is, gives the character to theuser). According to the example shown in FIG. 2, the user may retrieve agirl character, and may use the character in another game. That is, thecharacter is not given to the user as a result of a random event thatdepends only on chance like the “GACHA” in the related art, but is givenas a reward for an effort of solving the slide puzzle P.

The user may assemble a character card (game content) given as theabove-mentioned character in a card deck in a different game such as acard battle game, to fight against an enemy character, or to select theabove-mentioned character to progress a quest to enhance parameters (forexample, attack power, defensive power, experience point, health point,speed, necessary ability point, special move, support skill or the like)set in the character.

Accordingly, the mobile terminal 100 can give the user the pleasure ofsolving the slide puzzle P and the feeling of accomplishment ofretrieving the character. That is, the mobile terminal 100 can providethe slide puzzle P capable of maintaining high motivation of the userwith excellent amusement. Further, the mobile terminal 100 can allow theuser to have affection for the retrieved character, and to thus arouseenthusiasm of the user for the different game.

Configuration of Mobile Terminal 100

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part ofthe mobile terminal 100. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the mobile terminal100 includes a control unit 10 a (a time restriction part 11, a movenumber restriction part 12, a hint presentation part 13, a difficultylevel adjustment part 14, an image movement part 15, a puzzle displaypart 16, a puzzle determination part 17, and a character retrieving part18), an input unit 40 (an input surface 41 and an input control part42), a display unit 50, and a memory unit 30 a.

The control unit 10 a generally controls various functions of the mobileterminal 100. The control unit 10 a includes the time restriction part11, the move number restriction part 12, the hint presentation part 13,the difficulty level adjustment part 14, the image movement part 15, thepuzzle display part 16, the puzzle determination part 17, and thecharacter retrieving part 18.

The time restriction part 11 restricts time to achieve the purpose ofsolving the slide puzzle P (reconstructing the character image 5).Specifically, the time restriction part 11 may output time information 3a including information relating to the time to the puzzle display part16, to thereby present a predetermined restricted time (for example, 5minutes) to the user, as indicated by reference numeral 7 b in FIG. 2.The time restriction part 11 may present the restricted time to theuser, for example, by counting down the restricted time according to thetime elapsed after the user starts solving the slide puzzle P, and mayterminate the game when the restricted time becomes zero.

Thus, the mobile terminal 100 may give the user a feeling of tensionwith respect to the solution of the slide puzzle P. Further, the mobileterminal 100 may provide a slide puzzle P with excellent variation dueto imposition of the restricted time such as a slide puzzle in which“the difficulty level of the slide puzzle is low, but the user shouldsolve the puzzle in a short amount of time,” or a slide puzzle in which“the user may slowly solve the puzzle in a long period of time, but thedifficulty level of the slide puzzle is high.”

The move number restriction part 12 imposes a restriction on the numberof moves necessary to achieve the purpose. Specifically, the move numberrestriction part 12 may output move number information 3 b includinginformation relating to the number of moves to the puzzle display part16, to thereby present the restricted number of moves to the user asillustrated by reference numeral 7 a in FIG. 2. The move numberrestriction part 12 may present the restricted number of moves to theuser, reduces the restricted number of moves whenever the user moves thepart 6, and terminate the game when the restricted number of movesbecomes zero.

Thus, the mobile terminal 100 may give the user a feeling of tensionwith respect to the solution of the slide puzzle P. The mobile terminal100 may terminate the slide puzzle P (declare the game over) when therestricted number of moves is smaller than the number of minimum movesnecessary to solve the slide puzzle P. Thus, the mobile terminal 100 maygive the user the stronger feeling of tension with respect to thesolution of the slide puzzle P.

The hint presentation part 13 presents a hint relating to an operationof approaching the achievement of the purpose by (1) letters or (2) bychanging a display mode of the part 6 which is a target of the operationto the user. The hint presentation part 13 outputs the hint information3 c including information relating to the hint to the puzzle displaypart 16.

FIG. 3A is a schematic view illustrating an example of a game screen topresent the hint to the user. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the hintpresentation part 13 may present the number of minimum moves necessaryfor the user to solve the slide puzzle P as the hint (see referencenumeral 7 c) to the user. Alternatively, when the user performs anoperation of moving the part 6 in the wrong direction, the hintpresentation part 13 may present a warning indicating that the operationis wrong to the user as the hint. Alternatively, the hint presentationpart 13 may blink the part 6 which is a target of the next move fordisplay to present the hint to the user.

The hint presentation part 13 may present the hint to the user when apredetermined hint presentation condition is satisfied. For example, thehint presentation part 13 may present the hint to the user (1) when theuser performs an operation of using a predetermined item, (2) when thenumber of moves necessary to achieve the purpose is smaller than apredetermined number of moves, (3) when the level of the user does notreach a predetermined level, and/or (4) when the time until the purposeis achieved is shorter than a predetermined time, for example. Bypresenting the hint to the user as described above, the mobile terminal100 can lower a threshold in which the user works on the slide puzzle P,to thereby maintain high motivation of the user.

The difficulty level adjustment part 14 adjusts the difficulty level ofthe slide puzzle P by setting (1) the number of parts 6 (the number ofdivisions of the character image 5), (2) the number of minimum movesnecessary for the achievement of the purpose (the degree that the parts6 are shuffled), or (3) the wall 9 that hinders the movement of theparts 6. The difficulty level adjustment part 14 outputs difficultylevel information 3 d including information relating to the difficultylevel (the number of divisions, the number of moves, the position of thewall 9, or the like) to the puzzle display part 16.

For example, the difficulty level adjustment part 14 may adjust thedifficulty level of the slide puzzle P by setting the number ofdivisions of the character image 5 to 9 (3×3), 12 (3×4) or 16 (4×4).Alternatively, the difficulty level adjustment part 14 may adjust thedifficulty level of the slide puzzle P by setting the number of moves sothat the purpose cannot be achieved unless the parts 6 move at least 25times (without 25 moves), or by setting the number of moves so that 10moves are enough.

FIG. 3B is a schematic view illustrating an example of a game screenwhen the wall 9 that hinders the movement of the parts 6 is set. Asillustrated in FIG. 3B, when the wall 9 is set by the difficulty leveladjustment part 14, if the wall 9 is present in the direction toward theempty space 8, the user cannot move the parts 6 in the direction. Thatis, the difficulty level adjustment part 14 may apply a restriction to amovable direction of the parts 6, to thereby increase the difficultylevel of the slide puzzle P.

Since the mobile terminal 100 may freely adjust the difficulty level asdescribed above, for example, it is possible to set the difficulty leveldepending on an attribute of a character retrieved when the purpose isachieved (strength, rarity or the like of the character in a differentgame), the number of slide puzzles P that are previously solved by theuser, the level of the user or the like. For example, the mobileterminal 100 may set the difficulty level of the slide puzzle P to behigh as the strength or rarity of the retrieved character becomes high.Thus, the mobile terminal 100 can provide the slide puzzle P capable ofmaintaining high motivation of the user with excellent amusement.

When a predetermined operation is performed by the user, the imagemovement part 15 moves the part 6 to approach the achievement of thepurpose. The “predetermined operation” may be an operation using an item(an operation of selecting a desired item, an operation of consuming theitem, or the like), for example.

FIG. 3C is a schematic view illustrating an example of a game screenwhen the user approaches achievement of the purpose by a predeterminednumber of moves by performing the operation of using the item. Asillustrated in FIG. 3C, the image movement part 15 may move the parts 6by a predetermined number of moves (for example, 5 moves). The imagemovement part 15 outputs movement information 3 e including informationrelating to the movement of the parts 6 to the puzzle display part 16.

When the user uses the item, the mobile terminal 100 may generatepredetermined effects that advantageously act on the user such as (1)reduction of the number of the parts 6 (for example, changing 4×4 slidepuzzles to 3×4 slide puzzles) to lower the difficulty level, (2)non-occurrence of reduction of the restricted number of moves even whenthe parts 6 move, or (3) stopping of the count-down of the restrictedtime, for example. Thus, the mobile terminal 100 may lower the thresholdin which the user works on the slide puzzle P to maintain highmotivation of the user.

The puzzle display part (display part) 16 displays the slide puzzle P sothat the parts 6 can move in a predetermined direction (a directionwhere the empty space 8 is filled) according to the touch operation 4 adetected by the input surface 41. The puzzle display part 16 may displaythe slide puzzle P and the character image 5 (completed image) forreference to the achievement of the purpose (see FIG. 2). The puzzledisplay part 16 outputs puzzle information 2 including information onthe slide puzzle P to be displayed in the display unit 50 to the displayunit 50 and the puzzle determination part 17.

The puzzle determination part 17 determines whether the purpose ofrecognizably reconstructing the character image 5 (solving the slidepuzzle P) is achieved, and outputs the determination result(determination result 4 c) to the character retrieving part 18.

When it is determined that the purpose is achieved by the puzzledetermination part 17, the character retrieving part (retrieving part)18 retrieves a character or an item usable in a different game, orchange information to change information set in a predeterminedcharacter or an item in the different game, as a reward that is given tothe user for progress of the different game and is associated with thecharacter image 5. As described above, according to the example shown inFIG. 2, the user may retrieve the girl character. Further, the characterimage 5 may represent an item which is usable in a different game and,in this case, the character retrieving part 18 may retrieve the item.

The change information may be information to change the attribute(information set in a predetermined game content) of the predeterminedcharacter or item in the different game, or parameters (information setin the predetermined game content, for example, attack power, defensivepower, experience point, health point, speed, necessary ability point,special move, support skill, the number of usages or the like) of thecharacter or item. For example, when the change information is retrievedby the character retrieving part 18, the user may increase the attackpower of the character to be used in the different game.

Further, a character, an item, or change information that appears as apattern as the user solves the slide puzzle P, and the character, theitem, or the change information retrieved by the character retrievingpart 18 may be associated with each other as the reward for progress ofthe different game. That is, both of them may be the same, or may bedifferent from each other.

In the latter case, it is preferable that the character (character image5) that appears as the pattern in the slide puzzle P include informationcapable of associating at least one of the character retrieved by thecharacter retrieving part 18, the attribute of the character, theparameters set in the character (attack power, defensive power or thelike in the different game), and the parameter change.

For example, when the user succeeds in solving the slide puzzle P, when“ribbon” that appears as a pattern is shown by a completed image, theuser associates a character or an item relating to “girl,” and works onthe slide puzzle P while expecting to retrieve the character or item.Alternatively, when the user succeeds in solving the slide puzzle P,when “dumbbell” that appears as a pattern is shown by the completedimage, the user works on the slide puzzle P while expecting to change(increase) parameters relating to the strength (for example, attackpower, hit point or the like) of a predetermined character or item in adifferent game.

Further, the character retrieving part 18 selects the character or itemaccording to a predetermined rule. For example, the character retrievingpart 18 may randomly select one character from plural “girl” charactersto retrieve the corresponding character. Alternatively, the characterretrieving part 18 may select a “girl” character designated by “ribbon”in advance to retrieve the corresponding character.

In this way, when the character (image) that appears as the pattern asthe user succeeds in solving the slide puzzle P, when the character, theitem, or the parameter change (change information) retrieved by thecharacter retrieving part 18 are different from each other, the mobileterminal 100 may cause the user to expect what character, item orparameter change that can be retrieved after the user succeeds insolving the slide puzzle P is. That is, since the mobile terminal 100may adopt the unpredictability of a “GACHA,” it is possible to provide aslide puzzle with higher amusement.

The input unit 40 receives the touch operation 4 a from the user. Inthis example, the input unit 40 may be a touch panel capable ofdetecting multi-touch. The input unit 40 includes the input surface 41and the input control part 42.

The input surface 41 is a device capable of detecting a positiondesignated by the touch operation 4 a of the user (for example, a touchsurface included in the touch panel). The input surface 41 outputscoordinate information 4 b corresponding to the designated position tothe input control part 42.

The input control part 42 retrieves the coordinate information 4 b fromthe input surface 41 at predetermined time intervals, and outputs aseries of pieces of coordinate information 4 b to the puzzle displaypart 16 as a locus 1.

The display unit 50 is a device that displays a game screen. In thisexample, the display unit 50 may be a liquid crystal display. In FIG. 1,to clarify respective functions of the input unit 40 and the displayunit 50, both are separately shown. However, for example, when the inputunit 40 is a touch panel and the display unit 50 is a liquid crystaldisplay, it is preferable that both the input unit 40 and the displayunit 50 are integrally formed.

The memory unit 30 a is a storage device configured by an arbitrarystorage medium such as a hard disk, a silicon state drive (SSD), asemiconductor memory, or a DVD, for example, and stores a game programand data capable of controlling the mobile terminal 100.

Process Executed by Mobile Terminal 100

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process executed bythe mobile terminal 100. In the following description, “steps” representrespective steps included in the method of controlling the informationprocessing apparatus.

The puzzle display part 16 displays the slide puzzle P so that the parts6 can move in a predetermined direction (direction where the empty space8 is filled) according to the touch operation 4 a (step 1, hereinafter,“step” is simply referred to as “S,” display step). When it isdetermined by the puzzle determination part 17 that the slide puzzle Pis solved (YES in S2), the character retrieving part 18 retrieves acharacter or an item that is usable in a different game or changeinformation to change information set in a predetermined character oritem in the different game as a reward that is given to a user forprogress of the different game and is associated with the characterimage 5 (S3, retrieving step).

The control method may arbitrarily include a process executed in adifferent block (for example, the time restriction part 11, the movenumber restriction part 12, the hint presentation part 13, thedifficulty level adjustment part 14, or the image movement part 15), inaddition to the process described with reference to FIG. 4.

Effects of the Mobile Terminal 100

The mobile terminal 100 can give a user the amusement of solving theslide puzzle P and the feeling of accomplishment of retrieving acharacter or an item or changing information set in a predeterminedcharacter or item. That is, the mobile terminal 100 can provide a slidepuzzle capable of maintaining high motivation of the user with excellentamusement. Further, the mobile terminal 100 can allow the user to haveaffection for the retrieved character or item, and to thus arouseenthusiasm of the user for the different game.

Configuration 2

Configuration 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. InConfiguration 2, only a configuration added to the above-describedConfiguration 1 or a configuration different from the configuration ofConfiguration 1 will be described. That is, the configuration disclosedin Configuration 1 may be entirely included in Configuration 2 (or viceversa). Further, the definition of the terms disclosed in Configuration1 is similarly applied to Configuration 2. Differences betweenConfiguration 1 and Configuration 2

In Configuration 1, a configuration (stand alone configuration) in whichthe game program capable of providing the slide puzzle P is executed inthe mobile terminal 100 is described. On the other hand, inConfiguration 2, a configuration (cloud configuration) in which the gameprogram is executed by the server 101 and the execution process resultis returned to the mobile terminal 100 will be described.

Configuration of the Server 101

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part ofthe server 101. The server (information processing apparatus) 101 is anapparatus capable of providing the user with the slide puzzle P havingthe purpose of recognizably reconstructing the character image 5, byretrieving a locus 1 (touch operation 4 a which is an input from theuser with respect to the mobile terminal 100) from the mobile terminal100, generating information (puzzle information 2) to arrange the pluralparts 6 that form the character image 5 at predetermined positions, andtransmitting the puzzle information 2 to the mobile terminal 100.

As shown in FIG. 5, the server 101 includes a control unit 10 b (a timerestriction part 11, a move number restriction part 12, a hintpresentation part 13, a difficulty level adjustment part 14, an imagemovement part 15, a puzzle display part 16, a puzzle determination part17, a character retrieving part 18, and an input/output part 19), acommunication unit 20 (a reception part 21 and a transmission part 22),and a memory unit 30 b.

The control unit 10 b generally controls various functions of the server101. The control unit 10 b further includes the input/output part 19, inaddition to the configurations (the time restriction part 11, the movenumber restriction part 12, the hint presentation part 13, thedifficulty level adjustment part 14, the image movement part 15, thepuzzle display part 16, the puzzle determination part 17, and thecharacter retrieving part 18) included in the above-described controlunit 10 a.

The input/output part 19 retrieves the locus 1 received by the receptionpart 21, and outputs the locus 1 to the puzzle display part 16. Further,when the puzzle information 2 is input from the puzzle display part 16,the input/output part 19 outputs the puzzle information 2 through thetransmission part 22 to transmit the puzzle information 2 to the mobileterminal 100. Further, when character information 3 f includinginformation relating to a character retrieved by the characterretrieving part 18 and/or change information 3 g to change informationset in a predetermined character or item in a different game is inputfrom the character retrieving part 18, the input/output part 19transmits the character information 3 f and/or the change information 3g to the mobile terminal 100.

The communication unit 20 communicates with an external device through acommunication network according to a predetermined communication method.It is sufficient if a fundamental function of realizing thecommunication with the external device (for example, the mobile terminal100) is provided and, thus, a communication line, a communicationmethod, a communication medium or the like is not particularly limited.The communication unit 20 may be configured by an Ethernet (RegisteredTrademark) adaptor or the like. Further, the communication unit 20 mayuse a communication method or a communication medium such as IEEE802.11wireless communication or Bluetooth (registered trademark). Thecommunication unit 20 includes the reception part 21 and thetransmission part 22.

The reception part 21 receives the locus 1 (that is, the touch operation4 a given as the input with respect to the mobile terminal 100) from themobile terminal 100.

The transmission part 22 transmits the puzzle information 2 inputthrough the input/output part 19, the character information 3 f, and/orthe change information 3 g to the mobile terminal 100.

The memory unit 30 b is a storage device configured by an arbitrarystorage medium such as a hard disk, an SSD, a semiconductor memory or aDVD, similar to the above-described memory unit 30 a, and stores a gameprogram and data capable of controlling the server 101.

Further, the number of slide puzzles P solved by a user up to now, anitem owned by the user, the level of the user, and a character owned bythe user in a different game or the like may be stored in associationwith user identification information (for example, a user ID) in thememory unit 30 b according to a predetermined data format (for example,a table format or the like). For example, information about a name,rarity, attribute, level, attack power, defensive power, health point,speed, necessary ability point, special move, support skill, or thenumber of usages of a character may be stored for each character.

Process Executed by the Server 101

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process executed in agame system 200 that includes the mobile terminal 100 and the server101. In the following description, “steps,” which is noted in brackets,represent respective steps included in the method of controlling theinformation processing apparatus.

The puzzle display part 16 transmits the puzzle information 2 to themobile terminal 100 to display the slide puzzle P so that the parts 6can move in a predetermined direction (direction where the empty space 8is filled) according to the touch operation 4 a (S4, display step). Themobile terminal 100 receives the puzzle information 2 from the server101, and displays the slide puzzle P in a display unit 50 based on thepuzzle information 2 (S5).

The mobile terminal 100 transmits the locus 1 given as the input by thetouch operation 4 a to the server 101 (S6), and the server 101 receivesthe locus 1 so that the server 101 can retrieve the touch operation 4 a(S7). When it is determined by the puzzle determination part 17 that theslide puzzle P is solved (YES in S8), the character retrieving part 18retrieves a character that is usable in a different game or changeinformation to change information set in a predetermined character oritem in the different game as a reward that is associated with thecharacter image 5 (S9, retrieving step). Further, the mobile terminal100 transmits information (character information 3 f) relating to thecharacter and/or the change information 3 g to the mobile terminal 100(S9). The mobile terminal 100 receives the character information 3 fand/or the change information 3 g (S10).

The control method may arbitrarily include a process executed in adifferent block (for example, the time restriction part 11, the movenumber restriction part 12, the hint presentation part 13, thedifficulty level adjustment part 14, or the image movement part 15), inaddition to the process described with reference to FIG. 6. In thiscase, the time information 3 a, the move number information 3 b, thehint information 3 c, the difficulty level information 3 d, and/or themovement information 3 e are properly transmitted from the server 101 tothe mobile terminal 100.

Effects of the Server 101

The server 101 can give a user the pleasure of solving the slide puzzleP and the feeling of accomplishment of retrieving a character or an itemor changing information set in a predetermined character or item. Thatis, the server 101 can provide a slide puzzle capable of maintaininghigh motivation of the user with excellent amusement. Further, theserver 101 can allow the user to have affection for the retrievedcharacter or item, and to thus arouse enthusiasm of the user for thedifferent game.

Other Configuration Examples

In Configuration 1, the configuration (stand alone configuration) inwhich the mobile terminal 100 executes the processes necessary forproviding the slide puzzle P to the user is described, and inConfiguration 2, the configuration (cloud configuration) in which theserver 101 executes the processes is described. However, a configurationthat realizes the present disclosure is not limited to theabove-described two examples, and the processes may be appropriatelyshared by the mobile terminal 100 and the server 101.

For example, the server 101 may execute a process of determining whetherthe slide puzzle P is solved (puzzle determination part 17) and aprocess of retrieving a character or an item and/or change informationof parameters or the like (character retrieving part 18), and the mobileterminal 100 may execute a process of displaying the slide puzzle P(puzzle display part 16). Which one of the mobile terminal 100 or theserver 101 executes a specific process included in the processes may bearbitrarily determined according to calculation capacities of the mobileterminal 100 and the server 101, the speed of the communication linethat connects the mobile terminal 100 to the server 101, the number ofusers or the like and, thus, the slide puzzle P may be provided to theuser through the entire game system 200.

Realization Examples Based on Software

The control blocks (particularly, the control unit 10 a and the controlunit 10 b) of the mobile terminal 100 and the server 101 may be realizedby a logical circuit (hardware) formed as an integrated circuit (ICchip) or the like, or may be realized by software using a centralprocessing unit (CPU). In the latter case, the mobile terminal 100 andthe server 101 include a CPU that executes a command of a game programwhich is software for realizing each function, a read only memory (ROM)or a storage device (referred to as a “recording medium”) in which thegame program and a variety of data is readably recorded by a computer(or CPU), a random access memory (RAM) that develops the game programand the like. Further, the computer (or CPU) reads the game program fromthe recording medium, and executes the game program. As the recordingmedium, a “non-temporary tangible medium,” for example, a tape, a disk,a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logical circuit or thelike may be used. Further, the game program may be supplied to thecomputer through an arbitrary transmission medium (a communicationnetwork, broadcast waves or the like) capable of transmitting the gameprogram. My media, apparatus and methods may also be realized in theformat of a data signal embedded in a carrier in which the game programis realized by electronic transmission.

Specifically, the game program may be a game program capable ofproviding the slide puzzle (P) having the purpose of recognizablyreconstructing the image by arranging the plural partial images (parts6) that form the image (character image 5) at predetermined positions,and allows the computer (the mobile terminal 100 and the server 101) toexecute a display function, a retrieving function, a first restrictionfunction, a second restriction function, a presentation function, anadjustment function, a movement function, and a selection function.

The display function, the retrieving function, the first restrictionfunction, the second restriction function, the presentation function,the adjustment function, the movement function, and the selectionfunction may be realized by the above-described puzzle display part 16,the character retrieving part 18, the time restriction part 11, the movenumber restriction part 12, the hint presentation part 13, thedifficulty level adjustment part 14, the image movement part 15, and thecharacter retrieving part 18, respectively. Details thereof are asdescribed above.

The game program may be installed using a script language such asActionScript or JavaScript (Registered Trademark), an object-orientedprogramming language such as Objective-C or Java (Registered Trademark),a markup language such as HTML5 or the like. Further, a game system thatincludes a mobile terminal including the respective parts that realizethe respective functions realized by the game program and a serverincluding respective parts that realizes remaining functions differentfrom the respective functions is also included in the scope of thisdisclosure.

Supplementary Information

This disclosure is not limited to the above-described examples andconfigurations, and may be altered by those skilled in the art withinthe scope of the appended claims. An example obtained by appropriatelycombining technical means disclosed in different examples is included inthe technical scope of this disclosure. Further, new technical featurescan be formed by combining technical means disclosed in the examples.

This disclosure can be widely applied to an arbitrary computer such as asmart-phone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, aserver, a work station, or a main frame.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium that stores a game program configured to provide a userwith a puzzle game, the game program causing a computer to execute:displaying the slide puzzle so that each partial image is movable in apredetermined direction according to a touch operation detected by apredetermined input surface; arranging the partial images according tothe touch operation at predetermined positions to recognizablyreconstruct the image; retrieving|_([A1]), when the reconstructing isachieved, a game content that is usable in a different game or changeinformation to change information set in a predetermined game content inthe different game, as a reward that is given to the user for progressof the different game and is associated with the image; and adjusting adifficulty level of the puzzle game by changing the number of thepartial images and a restriction on time of the puzzle game according toan attribute of the game content or an attribute of the changeinformation.
 2. The non-transitory computer-readable recording mediumaccording to claim 1, wherein the game program causes the computer tofurther execute: imposing a second restriction on the number of movesnecessary to achieve the purpose.
 3. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 1, wherein thegame program causes the computer to further execute: presenting a hintrelating to an operation to approach achievement of the reconstructionto the user.
 4. The non-transitory computer-readable recording mediumaccording to claim 3, wherein the presenting is executed to present thehint to the user by letters, or by changing a display mode of a partialimage which is a target of the operation.
 5. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 1, wherein thegame program causes the computer to further execute: adjusting adifficulty level of the puzzle game by setting a wall that hinders themovement of the partial, image due to the touch operation or the numberof minimum moves necessary to achieve the purpose.
 6. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 1, wherein thegame program causes the computer to further execute: moving, when apredetermined operation is performed by the user, the partial images toapproach the achievement of the reconstruction.
 7. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 1, wherein thegame program causes the computer to further execute: selecting the gamecontent retrieved by the retrieving as a game content corresponding tothe image according to a predetermined rule.
 8. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 1, wherein thedisplaying is executed to display the image together with the slidepuzzle for reference to the achievement of the reconstruction.
 9. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 1,wherein the image represents the game content retrieved by theretrieving.
 10. The non-transitory computer-readable recording mediumaccording to claim 1, wherein the image includes information capable ofassociating at least one of the game content, an attribute of the gamecontent, a parameter set in the game content, and a change of theparameter.
 11. The non-transitory computer-readable recording mediumaccording to claim 1, wherein the game content represents a character oran item in the different game, which is electronic data used by the userin the different game.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium according to claim 1, wherein the change information isinformation to change an attribute of a predetermined game content ofthe different game or a parameter of the predetermined game content. 13.The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim1, wherein the attribute contains at least one of strength or rarity ofthe retrieved game content.
 14. A method of controlling an informationprocessing apparatus configured to provide a user with a puzzle game,the method comprising: displaying the slide puzzle so that each partialimage is movable in a predetermined direction according to a touchoperation detected by a predetermined input surface; arranging thepartial images according to the touch operation at predeterminedpositions to recognizably reconstruct the image; retrieving, when thepurpose is achieved, a game content that is usable in a different gameor change information to change information set in a predetermined gamecontent in the different game, as a reward that is given to the user forprogress of the different game and is associated with the image; andadjusting a difficulty level of the puzzle game by changing the numberof the partial images and a restriction on time of the puzzle gameaccording to an attribute of the game content or an attribute of thechange information.
 15. The method according to claim 14, furthercomprising: imposing a restriction on the number of moves necessary toachieve the reconstruction.
 16. The method according to claim 14,further comprising: presenting a hint relating to an operation toapproach achievement of the reconstruction to the user.
 17. Aninformation processing apparatus configured to provide a user with apuzzle game, comprising: a display unit that displays the slide puzzleso that each partial image is movable in a predetermined directionaccording to a touch operation detected by a predetermined input surfaceand arranges the partial images according to the touch operation atpredetermined positions to recognizably reconstruct the image; aretrieving unit that retrieves, when the purpose is achieved, a gamecontent that is usable in a different game or change information tochange information set in a predetermined game content in the differentgame, as a reward that is given to the user for progress of thedifferent game and is associated with the image; and a first restrictionunit that adjusts a difficulty level of the puzzle game by changing thenumber of the partial images and a restriction on time of the puzzlegame according to an attribute of the game content or an attribute ofthe change information.
 18. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 17, further comprising: a second restriction unitthat imposes a restriction on the number of moves necessary to achievethe reconstruction.